HTL launches the Cutty Sark official website with The Cutty Sark Trust

Overview

The Cutty Sark Society (www.cuttysark.org.uk) was formed in 1951 by Frank Carr, Director of the National Maritime Museum and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to ensure the preservation of the Cutty Sark, the world’s sole surviving tea clipper. The Cutty Sark Trust, a charity registered in 2000 is the successor of The Cutty Sark Society.

The Trust’s main objectives are to conserve, maintain, interpret and display the Cutty Sark and promote access to formal and informal learning opportunities. Their aim is to ensure that the ship, its collection and services, and their historical and cultural relevance are accessible to people regardless of ability, gender, age and social ethnic or religious background.

Problem

The Cutty Sark Trust required a website that would ‘bring them into the 21st century’. The Trust initially approached HTL to provide and assist in the design and development of their new website. The site needed to provide not only detailed historic information about the ship, but provide educational and learning initiatives. We worked closely with the Trust to ensure that the website captured the true spirit and sensation of the ship.

The requirements were to:

Be the first port of call to visitors

Assist in documenting the progress of the Cutty Sark's conservation programme

Provide information on the history and collections of Cutty Sark

The site needed to help in portraying the need for assistance with raising funds for a huge conservation project, without which the Cutty Sark will become dangerous and could face closure by 2007.

HTL were able to provide the Trust with all their online requirements in order that they can function efficiently and effectively with the advantage that their needs and requirements are fully supported by HTL.

Technical Details

“We are very grateful to Docklands Light Railway and HTL for our brand new website. It is fantastic to have a site that will be able to do justice to our new project.”

- Richard Doughty, Chief Executive of the Cutty Sark Trust

Solution

The Trust expressed the need for a high-quality and effective website: one which meets their needs and goals today and provides support for what they want to do tomorrow. Not only does the site cover all the main goals as mentioned above, it is capable of more.

The site contains an RSS feed which can supply browsers with the latest news and stories from the site. From time to time, the browser will go and check for new items, and depending on your settings, will alert you of any update on the site. It's an easy and convenient way of keeping up to date with the Cutty Sark.

You can also support the trust by donating online through the site, purchase goods online, find out about upcoming events and attractions, and learn about the Tea Clipper’s history amongst many more positive and interesting functions.

With this challenge facing the Trust, HTL decided to assist in funding a major part of the website development project as well as financing the Trust with their ongoing online presence.

Conclusion

The Trust can now manage their site with the freedom of making changes and updates as and when required. The new site incorporates all their initial goals and can help to promote their conservation project which goes ahead during 2006 – 2009.

Richard Doughty, Chief Executive of the Cutty Sark Trust quoted:

We are very grateful to Docklands Light Railway and HTL for our brand new website. It is fantastic to have a site that will be able to do justice to our new project.

HTL’s Managing Director, Justin Dean quoted:

We have been delighted to be involved with this prestigious project. We hope the web site will raise the profile of the Cutty Sark conservation programme and focus attention on the Greenwich area in general. London expects the number of visitors to the city to continue to escalate following the success of the Olympic bid. Hopefully, the web site will encourage visitors to ensure a visit to the Cutty Sark is on their list.